Newspaper Under Fire For Tone-Deaf Questions About Prince Harry And Meghan Markle's Marriage

By Mark Pygas

Updated March 11 2021, 3:26 p.m. ET

Source: Getty

Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle announced their engagement on Monday morning, as well as announcing that the two would be getting married sometime next year. 

As you can imagine, the announcement attracted quite a bit of attention from the media. But one article by The Telegraph received more attention than most. The British newspaper asked handwriting expert, a face reader, an astrologer, a numerologist, and a relationship counselor how long the couple's marriage would last. 

Will Harry and Meghan's marriage last? We asked the experts #Premium https://t.co/hrJSmwzswK

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 28, 2017

For reference, a numerologist is someone who believes that life works in cycles, "and by interpreting the numbers one to nine within these cycles, numerologists can gain insights into our personalities and relationships - using just a name, and a place of birth."

Unsurprisingly, people were somewhat confused by all the pseudoscience; as one person put it, "The Telegraph talked to a handwriting expert, a face reader, an astrologer, a numerologist and a relationship counselor to see if Meghan and Harry's marriage will last, and it is absolutely mad." Another Twitter user called it "terrible" that they were contemplating the couple's potential success as they "are embarking on their life together."

The Telegraph talked to a handwriting expert, a face reader, an astrologer, a numerologist and a relationship counselor to see if Meghan and Harry's marriage will last, and it is absolutely mad https://t.co/N7Mmanidhz

— Will Martin (@willmartin19) November 28, 2017

#Premium https://t.co/hnyGJ7y4pm

— James Ball (@jamesrbuk) November 28, 2017

What a terrible article to write or even contemplate when a young couple are embarking on their life together

— SandraSixty (@Sandra55) November 28, 2017

As one person pointed out, this sort of sensationalist journalism played a role in the death of his mother, Princess Diana, as she was chased by paparazzi with her significant other — with the two ultimately dying in a car crash. Others questioned the motive, noting that there weren't any articles of the like when Harry's older brother, Prince William, announced his engagement to his now-wife, Kate Middleton. All in all, nearly everyone seemed to be entirely disappointed in the attempt to make a salacious story out of literally nothing.  

Jesus Christ!! Leave them alone. I’m not a fan of the Royals, but look what your lot did to his Mother

— Mark Kelly (@Markkelly63) November 28, 2017

this is pretty lowball. to bury clickbait into premium content that discusses the chance of divorce of a high level couple that isn't even married yet. this isn't journalism worth paying for. it's not even journalism.

— Future Looks Good (@analoguepilot) November 28, 2017

Nice... haven't you got something else to be doing?, there is an awful lot of news about if you go and look for some.

— Oliver Neilson (@OliverNeilson) November 28, 2017

https://t.co/73QRJnn6sj Don't remember the same question being asked when William and Kate got engaged 🤔

— Natalie Rowe (@RealNatalieRowe) November 28, 2017

What an utterly distasteful article

— Scruffs (@ScruffsMD) November 28, 2017

Oh, for the love of god, stop.

— Patti Digh (@pattidigh) November 28, 2017

What a terrible pathetic thing to say!!!! Typical shit statement from people who can’t be happy for other people!!!! How unbelievably annoying !!!!!!

— Zoe.smithurst (@Zoepresseco) November 28, 2017

How tacky is that?

— GertsenPR #FBPE (@GertsenPR) November 28, 2017

Sensationalism. It is uncivilised and stupid to ask. There is also no expert knowledge

— Roel Prins (@RoelPrins1) November 28, 2017

What a horrible question to ask publicly at this time. Shame on you!

— Pastor Richard (@thebiblestrue) November 28, 2017

For gods sake give them a chance to at least get married before you start to end it.

— Anthony John Prince (@tonyp8886) November 28, 2017

Here as Distractify, we're rooting for Meghan and Harry — and we don't care what any numerologist, handwriting expert, or anyone else has to say! What do you think?

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